Background

Although various annual reports on developing countries are published by international organisations, the African continent is seldom covered on a country-by-country comparative basis. One common concern of donors, private investors and local policy makers about African countries is the lack of consistent, reliable, and timely information on their economic, political and social developments. African countries show a high degree of diversity among themselves and across time and the need of periodic reviews of their situation and short-terms prospects is a necessary tool for good policy making and economic development.